The classic Seinfeld episode that injured Michael Richards

At the end of “The Parking Lot,” Kramer finally finds his car and is relieved to unload the air conditioner into his trunk. As Alexander explains in his DVD interview, the trunk was only about three-quarters of an inch wider than the box that housed the air conditioner, which created a bit of leeway. To fit the actual air conditioner in the trunk, Richard had to lift the box gigantically, hoping it would snap into place quickly.

Of course, that’s not what happened. Richard noticed that the box stopped on the edge of the trunk and he accidentally bumped his face against it. His lip split open and he began to bleed. “Which was good,” Richards noted, “for the comedy.” Richards tried to play down the injury, saying he only had “a little bump. Bumps are good.” He was also the consummate professional and remained in character throughout. “Mikhail refuses to break,” Alexander noted. Unfortunately, Louis-Dreyfus saw the injury up close, saw the blood, and started laughing, completely breaking character.

Richards, trying to save himself, simply said, still in character, “I really hurt myself, Elaine.” He then tried to continue his next line. Unfortunately, Seinfeld and Alexander started laughing too, and Richards eventually had to laugh at himself.

The episode’s pièce de résistance turned out to be unscripted. After a terrible day of getting lost in the garage – and a frustrating day of grunting and mouth injuries – the quartet finally get in the car to drive away. Richards had to start the car and drive away. But, because the car was old and terrible, it actually wouldn’t start. Then a closer look shows the cast cracking up inside the car, amused by grim perfection.

It’s a creepy, aggravating, and very fun “button” to a very good episode. It’s also part of why some Seinfeld cast members aren’t sure the show can be made today.